Got a Lesson this Weekend
 

And I'm not sure what I should have my lesson on. The saddles are too big for me (westerns, and the legs are too long, so when we put the stirrup to the hole that fits, the fenders bulge outward) and the horse I want to have my lesson on has a saddle that's painful riding stirrupless.

So... I'm having at bareback. But, would this help me pin point my trouble spots? I'm not as good bareback as I am in a saddle yet but aside from that, what all should I ask for a lesson on?

Should I ask to see if I can get a lesson on collection and half halts?
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When they do the western saddle pull DOWN on the strap with the holes in it behind the fenders. This will bring the fenders up and allow more room for the stirrup on the top hole, make sense?
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Ja. We do that, but... I can't remember if they are still bowed... I will double check!
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i ride bareback on my mini cuz im rly short lol! any way if ur riding bareback my advice to you from expirience is stay calm and take it slow! if ya rush things youll spook the horse! i learned the hard way with my stallion hades lol! he ran me into a fence

1. You ride... A MINI?!?! Are you serious?

2. Horses don't spook from riding bareback. *If* they act differently its because they can now really feel you so they might be more sensitive. So of a horse runs you into a fences its most likely because your leaning or your gripping to much with your legs. If he is throwing I buck or something of the like its most likely related to pain. I highly doubt any saddle broke horse is going to spook from riding bareback.
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I second that, slidestop.

I tested the saddle out again, and turns out I didn't pull the fenders enough. They fit! But just barely. : p

So... Did the lesson. I have never fallen so many
times in one sitting! Haha.

It was bareback and reignless riding. I was on a
lungeline and I did pretty good, except at the trot. I
think I fell three times trotting, once at the canter.
The first two "falls" were: I've lost my balance!
Quick, grab onto something before you hit the
ground! I couldn't pull myself back up so I just
slipped off and remounted.

The third was the first canter we gave a try. Lost
balance, slipped to the side, landed feet first then
plunked onto my butt. Hopped on, did it again, and did a lot better.

Went back to trotting, lost balance again, and hit
butt first pretty hard so we walked around for a bit
so my muscles wouldn't tighten up. The best part
was? Brown did great. : ) It was pretty funny how he got to figuring out that each fall means to go back to the stepping block. But he also stopped immediately once I became deseated.

By the end I started getting the hang of the trot.
Brown naturally has this extended, bouncy trot.
Hard as hell to sit.

It turns out I have a tendency of slouching and
leaning forward, which I need to fix. He says every
time (prior and then) I've fallen was because I
leaned forward. I also noticed I need to start opening my chest more, which will help if I roll my shoulders back to prevent me leaning forward.

Yaaaaay. My poor butt hurts. : p
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Ahhh I know the feeling! All of my off balance-ness is cuz I lean forward just like you! It is such a bad habit. I'm learning on fixing it. Hopefully you'll get better too, cuz it really is crazy how much it'll throw you off balance and of much easier it is to fall-as you well know!!

Last time I "fell" was when I got bucked off during a lesson. I almost regained my balance, but I was learning forward prior to the buck so I pretty much landed on the horse's neck and fell to the side. Sigh. I almost wanna glue a 2x4 to my back so it -can't- bend! Glad you had a fun lesson though! You'll probably be super sore tomorrow...

lol! well i got my minis for my seventeenth birthday! i wanted to lean to ride so my parnts thot it be saer at first to ride hades cuz im so short lol! after he ran me into the fence my mom got me riding lessons with a friend of the family! so far ive had 2 lessons and just learned to gallop! best feeling ever! my instructor says im a natural but in all honesty i dont think im that great yet!
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Unless you under 80 pounds you have NO business riding a mini!! You can seriously hurt him. Not to undermine your skills, but galloping (as in running full out, correct?) On your second lesson?! If your parents were worried about you riding a regular sized horse I'm surprised they didn't keel over when you did that! Pushing yourself way beyond your skill level is VERY DANGEROUS! And you have a stallion? I pray he is only a mini, they can and will be dangerous without a knowledgeable and competent owner. It sounds like he may already have the upper hand on you taking off on you and dumping you. Scary.... Remember these are 1200 pound animals with BRAINS, THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS. Not bicycles. They can be dangerous!!
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^^im guessing shes making up stories to impress people !

OP OUCH ! thats a lot of times to fall off !